Tampa Bay Lightning

In the Forum it's called the "TECO Energy Power Play"
On TV it's the "Toyota Tundra Power Play"

I don't think either one of these companies are getting the marketing represntation they had bargained for and these are really misleading slogans for the fan base. I've been thinking the last few games the sponsorship ought to change to provide a better marketing impact for the sponsor's buck. The sponsorship that's been ringing in my head lately when we go on the PP?

More points left on the table at the hands of ex-Detroit Viper Tim Thomas.

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Marc Denis allowed 3 goals on 25 shots before going perfect deep into the shootout until rookie Phil Kessel beat him with a shot high glove side to win it for Boston. Eric Perrin, Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier each had 1 goal and 1 assist for the Lightning with Ruslan Fedotenko and Vaclav Prospal adding individual helpers.

I can't be too upset, because the Lightning have outshot their opponents 84-45 in the last two games, and yet the club has only gotten one of a very winnable four points and are slowly slipping behind Carolina and Atlanta in the standings. Again, the schedule the next two months is brutal. The Lightning must bank whatever winnable games they can get, because there won't be many.

Johan Holmqvist stopped just 10 of 13 shots he faced for the loss before giving way to Marc Denis who stopped 5 of 6 before Washington tacked on an empty net goal. The Lightning outshot the Caps by a stunning 50-20 margin including a 16 shot first period and a mind blowing 25 shot third period. Olaf Kolzig, however, was up to the task. Dan Boyle had 2 assists to lead the Lightning attack. Nick Tarnasky and Vincent Lecavalier scored the Lightning goals. For Tarnasky, it was his first in the NHL with Blair Jones and Ryan Craig getting individual assists in the game.

The downside of the night's outcome is the team squandered an opportunity to move into a tie for second in the division with Carolina and to pick up a point against Atlanta. On paper, the Lightning's schedule in December and January looks potentially brutal so the Lightning must get points when they play lesser opponents like Washington. You can't necessarily fault their effort tonight against the Caps, but the points left on the table still hurt.

Holy cow. Who'd have thought the Lightning could do THAT in the same week and a half they took a 7-2 beat down from Buffalo?

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Johan Holmqvist continued his iron fisted hold on the starting goaltending gig stopping 22 of 23 shots faced. Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis and Filip Kuba led the way offensively with 1 goal and 1 assist each. Eric Perrin, Paul Ranger and Dan Boyle each had individual assists in the game. Don't look know, but quiet like a thief in the night Kuba is on a pace for 10 goals and about 55 points. Pavel who? Dollar for dollar, you can make an argument Filip was one of the best free agent signings in the NHL last summer.

Johan Holmqvist stopped 23 of 25 shots faced for the win. Dan Boyle had a pair of goals for the Lightning including the tying goal with the extra attacker with 21 seconds left that was a point shot which deflected off of two Thrashers and in to force overtime. Martin St. Louis had 1 goal and 1 assist with his overtime winning goal coming off some incredible work in the corner by Vaclav Prospal who, along with Vincent Lecavalier, Filip Kuba, Ryan Craig and Cory Sarich, had individual helpers in the game. The overtime win moves the Lightning within five points of the division leader with games in hand on both Atlanta and Carolina.